Pistons Plan to Move Team to New Downtown Aren

According to unnamed sources with knowledge of the negotiation the Detroit Pistons have reached an agreement in principle with the city of Detroit and Olympia Entertainment to bring the team back to downtown Detroit for the first time since 1978. A move that will see all four Detroit professional sports teams playing in the city for the first time in almost 40 years.

The new Little Caesars Arena sits roughly 30 miles from Auburn Hills where the Pistons have called home since 1988 and will be located in the same neighborhood that plays host to the Tigers and Lions. Pistons owner Tom Gores has not publicly announced the move but is set to appear at a news conference sometime Tuesday with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings which handles business operations for the Detroit Red Wings.

The RedWings are also currently in their last season playing under their home at the Joe Louis Arena and will make the move to the new downtown facility for the 2017 NHL season. Sharing the roughly $732 million dollar facility with the Pistons.
The new duel sport facility will be able to house 20,000 for NHL games and 21,000 strong for NBA events. A study conducted by the University of Michigan on the economic implications of the move shows that with the renovations to the new arena, the building of a new practice facility and the relocation of employment will create nearly $596 million dollars for the southeastern Michigan area.

The fate of The Palace in Auburn Hills is still unclear at this time. The Pistons won two NBA championships in The Palace their first two years in Auburn Hills and again during the 2004 season. The team under Head Coach and Team President Stan Van Gundy are currently 6-9 this season and 11th in the Eastern Conference.